Bengaluru: Undertrial at NIMHANS succumbs to bullet injuries

Bengaluru, Aug 17: An undertrial at the country's top mental health institute NIMHANS here, who snatched a rifle from an escort policemen and fired 23 rounds randomly, succumbed to bullet wounds in a counter-attack by the commandos.

The undertrial Vishwanath succumbed to the bullet wounds in an hospital here. "Injured #NIMHANS prisoner operated upon. Despite the best efforts, he succumbed to the injuries sustained during commando operation," Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharik tweeted.

The 22-year-old "mentally unstable" Vishwanath was brought to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences from Parapanaagrahara central prison on city outskirts for treatment. He snatched a rifle from one of the five escort policemen and started firing.

The undertrial was taken to the guardroom for completing hospital formalities when he requested the policemen to remove the handcuff to go to the toilet which they did. As he came out of the toilet, he snatched the rifle and fired indiscriminately at the ceiling and floor, Megharik told reporters.

The undertrial fired 23 rounds randomly

Police and the hospital staff tried to overpower him but did not succeed. Police then locked him in one of the rooms and immediately evacuated the staff and patients from nearby rooms. Commando force "Garuda" was rushed and they cordoned off the area. Efforts were made to persuade Vishwanath to give up the firearm.

"He did not even listen to his brother, who called him on his mobile". The commandos then entered the room and fired back at him, seriously injuring him in his chest and rushed him to a hospital, Megharik said.

Vishwanath fired 23 rounds, he said. He was shot and fatally injured after a long standoff between him and the commandos. Megharik said Vishwanath, who is allegedly involved in a murder and arson case, was mentally unstable and was regularly brought to NIMHANS for treatment.

PTI